19. A Little Horseshoe Luck

A Little Horseshoe Luck

The next morning Hadley walked downstairs to grab breakfast. She noticed the cupcake container was empty and there were crumbs scattered across the table and onto the floor. She also noticed fresh ink on the napkin she left for her father.

15 = job.

Get one.

Hadley read and re-read the short words. No happy birthday. No thank you. No nothing. Just a demand. Okay, then. She sunk into her chair, forgetting to grab the cereal. Her mind rattled with thoughts. How would she find a job? How would this affect Dorothy? The horses? She'd only been fifteen for a few hours and yet everything had already changed. So much for birthday wishes and horseshoe luck.

She placed a hand over her chest, realizing at some point during her inward spiral she had stopped exhaling. Breathe. Just breathe. She tried. Her lungs didn't cooperate. She felt paralyzed as her heart thumped desperately beneath her hand. The anxiety building made the thumping faster. Louder. She forced her mind to quiet as she managed a few staccato breaths. She removed her hand from her chest and watched as it trembled. The distraction of studying her quivering hand helped her calm down. After a few minutes, she felt stable and was breathing normally. Lightheaded, but breathing.

Hadley looked up at the kitchen clock and noticed the morning was almost over already. There's no time for this, she thought. She was mad at herself for allowing her father to wreck her so easily. She realized if she was going to balance a job with maintaining housework and helping on the farm, she'd have to get moving. She quickly gathered the crumbs into her hand and did a fast sweep of the floor.

She went upstairs and changed into a pale pink blouse and the only pair of jeans she owned that didn't have holes and weren't too short. She debated wearing a nice pair of shoes, but ultimately slid on her white sneakers since she'd need to keep her feet comfortable. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and smoothed her golden hair into a straight ponytail.

She grabbed a small bag from her closet and ran downstairs. She picked out a granola bar from the pantry, despite having lost her appetite, and filled up a bottle with sink water. She dropped both into her bag. Determined to find a job that would not impede her time with Dorothy and the horses, she walked out the front door. This would be a much trickier balance once school resumed, but for now she could make it work. She would make it work. She knew if she left her driveway and turned right, it would lead her to Dorothy's farm. So instead, she turned left.

There was a small strip of stores in this direction that would be her only chance at getting a job. It's not like her father would be dropping her off or picking her up each day. She'd need to be able to walk there on her own.

Twenty minutes later, Hadley approached the cluster of stores. She stood on the sidewalk and evaluated each shop, reading their signs. There was a dry cleaner, a florist, and a general store. The shop on the end past the general store had no sign and looked abandoned. Okay. Three chances. If she couldn't make one of these work, she'd end up needing to walk another twenty minutes to the nearest Walmart.

Hadley decided she would start with the dry cleaner and make her way down the strip. She paused in front of the entrance to take a deep breath and wipe her clammy hands on her pants before pushing the door open, sounding an electronic bell. On cue, a short Chinese woman, with dull black hair, wearing a faded purple apron and large wire-rimmed glasses, approached from the back room.

Hadley introduced herself, awkwardly clearing her throat in the middle.

"Do you have your slip or order number?"

Hadley realized since she wasn't holding any dirty clothes that this woman must have thought she was picking clothes up. "Oh, um, actually I don't have anything to pick up. I was hoping that maybe you'd be hiring? I have decent grades in school and learn quickly. I'm also great with cleaning. Just ask my dad." She was aiming at making a joke, but her words came out jumbled.

"How old are you, Haley?"

"Hadley," she quietly corrected. "I just turned fifteen."

"Sorry. Hadley." The woman ran her eyes up and down Hadley. "I wish I had something for you, but I pretty much run this shop alone. I don't really get busy enough to hire help. You're young; you should be enjoying your youth anyway." The woman smiled despite her deadpan voice.

"Are you sure? I could really use the money. It's just me and my dad at home and –"

"I really am sorry, sweetheart. Maybe try next door. Majority of the cars that pull into this lot walk into his shop instead of mine."

"Okay, thank you," Hadley said as she focused on the counter, avoiding eye contact.

"You're most welcome. I really should get back to the clothes. Stains won't remove themselves." She waved at Hadley before retreating to the back of the shop.

Hadley walked out and stepped toward the next door which belonged to the flower shop. She wiped her hands again before pushing open the door. This time she heard a jingle from bells knocking against the glass door. She took a quick glance around, noticing how much livelier this store was compared to the boring dry cleaners. This store was full of vibrant flowers and smelled like strawberries.

There was an elderly black man bent over a bouquet of orange, pink, and yellow flowers standing toward the back of the store who Hadley assumed was probably close in age to Dorothy, since his hair matched the gray t-shirt he was wearing under his dark green apron. Hadley had no idea what kind of flowers he was piecing together but found the colors beautiful.

Noticing her presence, his copper-colored eyes glanced up. "Hello, there! How can I help ya today?" Hadley was surprised by the tenor in his voice. She was used to a deeper male tone which often intimidated her. She found the absence of gravel a relief.

"Hi, my name is Hadley." She made it through this time without awkwardly choking on her words.

"Hey, Hadley. I'm Steve. Have you been here before? You look quite familiar." He walked around the counter to get a closer look at her.

"No, I don't think so."

"Hmm. I could swear I've seen you before. Are your parents in the car?"

"Oh. Um, no. I actually walked here by myself. I don't live far and it's so nice out," she said with a slight quiver.

"I see. Are you looking for any specific arrangement today?"

"Oh, actually, I don't need flowers. I was hoping I could find some part time work. I'm fifteen and it's just me and my dad at home. I wanted to help out while I could. Is there any chance you'd be hiring? I don't know all that much about flowers, though. But I've always loved them. I follow directions well and I learn quickly…" She knew she was rambling. If she kept talking, he wouldn't have the chance to reject her.

Steve listened patiently, not wanting to interrupt. "It's mighty generous of you to want to work at your age to help your dad out." He paused again, observing her bright blue eyes. "Are you sure I don't know you?"

Hadley shrugged.

"Hmm. Well, I hadn't planned on hiring but I suppose a lil' help never hurts. It is starting to get busy around here."

"I would really appreciate it! It's summer so I'm free whenever. Once school starts, I would need to take the bus home and then walk here after."

"That sounds just fine. We can work out fall once it rolls ‘round. How about you work a couple hours each morning until, say, lunchtime? I think it would be useful to have you help open up the shop. Then I can teach you how to organize upcoming orders and how to write down phone orders."

"I would love that! That sounds perfect."

"I can set you up for minimum wage, but that's about all I can part with right now." He tapped his finger against his lips, and Hadley stood still, hoping he wasn't about to change his mind. "If you would want to work under the table I could bump up the pay a bit."

"What's under the table mean?"

"It just means I won't put you on the insurance or payroll. I'll just hand you cash from the drawer at the end of each week."

"Oh! I get it… I think. I mean, that's fine with me. Whatever is easiest for you, really. I don't want to cause any issues. I would appreciate anything."

"How about $3.20 an hour in cash, that's about thirty cents over minimum wage. You can start each morning at 8:30. I open at 9, but it takes a bit of time to make sure the shop is ready for the day."

"I can do that! When should I start?"

"You can come back tomorrow. You said you are already fifteen, right?"

"Yeah. My birthday was yesterday, actually. Is that okay?"

"Happy birthday. Yes, that's just fine. So long as you're fifteen we're good to go. I don't think I caught your last name."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I should have started with that. It's Martin. Hadley Martin."

Steve was jotting down notes on the pad of paper by the register when his hand froze. He lifted his gaze back to Hadley and studied her closely. "Hadley Martin?"

"Yes…" Hadley saw something click behind the old man's eyes. She immediately worried Steve knew her father. Chances are that would ruin everything. Her dad wasn't exactly known for his pleasantries lately.

"Well, I'll be. That's how I know you. Your mom is, or I - uh, was, Elizabeth, right? Elizabeth Martin?"

Hadley's eyes widened. "You knew my mom?"

"I sure did. She was one of my favorite clients. She was always in here ordering elaborate table displays. She was the sweetest lady. Always had the best stories to share. I was so sorry to hear about her cancer and how it all ended. I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Thanks. It was really hard, but I'm figuring it out. With it just being my dad at home, this job will really help."

"Glad to hear it. Any daughter of Elizabeth is a friend of mine," he said warmly. "Anyway, it was quite nice to meet you, I'll see you tomorrow morning, okay? I gotta get back to these arrangements before the pick-up rush begins."

"Thanks, again." With that, she left the shop and started to walk back home. She was elated that she'd be able to work all morning and still make it to the farm to clean the stalls and ride the horses. She could even enjoy sweet tea with Dorothy. She'd just have to handle most of her housework in the evening, instead of the early morning. She hoped her dad wouldn't mind. He should be happy enough that she found a job. She was a bit worried about what would happen in the fall when she had school during the day. For now, anyway, she found the perfect solution.

With the stress of finding a job behind her, she noticed her stomach was rumbling. She reached into her bag and grabbed the Quaker chewy chocolate chip granola bar that she packed and ate it while she continued her walk home. With excitement in her step, her return only took eighteen minutes, two faster than her earlier walk. Her steps quickened as she grew eager to get to the farm, happy to have the whole afternoon ahead of her. Maybe that horseshoe had a little luck saved up after all.

She decided the outcome of today was the best possible one for her and hoped her dad would agree. Yeah right. Hadley quickly walked inside and changed her clothes. She grabbed a handful of Goldfish and ran back out, this time turning right toward the farm.